Folding box



July 23, 1968 GIUMMO 3,393,859

FOLDING BOX Filed July 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvnvran. DOME/VICGIUMMO FIG.2

July 23, 1968 D. GIUMMO 3,393,859

FOLDING BOX Filed July 20. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

United States Patent 3,393,859 FOLDING BOX Domenic Giummo, Brooklyn,N.Y., assignor to Gift Box Corporation of America, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New Jersey Filed July 20, 1966, Ser. No. 566,515 6Claims. (Cl. 22935) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A folding box having animproved locking means, the box including flaps attached to side wallpanels having self-clearing slits through the flaps and tabs, attachedto adjacent side wall panels, having an upper edge higher than the topof the slits. The tabs coact with the slits to cam the tabs into theslits by arching the side wall panels on which the tabs are mounted sothat after the tabs are inserted through the slits the side panelsstraighten out causing the tabs to abut against a solid wall portion ofthe adjacent wall panel providing a simple and effective locking means.

This invention relates to improvements in cartons, boxes, trays andother like structures hereinafter collectively referred to as boxes orfolding boxes, made by folding, from blanks of cardboard, paper board,or other like suitable foldable sheet material. More particularly, thisinvention relates to folding boxes having an improved cornerconstruction which locks the walls in containerforming relation uponpositioning the walls in their erected position.

Folding boxes have been in use for many years and there exists a myriadof designs for blanks. Most prior art designs utilize flaps on sidewalls which are inserted in slits or cuts through the central portion ofthe adjoining side walls; however, these designs lack locking power andare asthetically unattractive. Furthermore, it is very difficult toprint on those sides containing the slits and through which the flapsare inserted. To overcome these deficiencies, there has developed astyle of folding box wherein the locking is achieved at the corners ofthe box, thereby providing a box with clean, uninterrupted sides. Inaddition to being asthetically more pleasing, it is possible to print orafiix printed matter on all sides of the box. Prior art corner lockingboxes, however, have been found to be either difficult to assemble ordeficient in locking power.

Major users of folding boxes are retail stores which are widelydistributed throughout the world. The assembler of these boxes in suchstores is usually a clerk who has little time to spend assembling theboxes and, furthermore, is untrained in such assembling procedures. Toavoid the need for training such clerks in the assembling of foldingboxes, it is extremely desirable that the assembly be simple and obviousand require a minimum of time and effort. It is also desirable that thelocking step for fixing the sides of the box in their erect position beautomatically performed as an integral part of assembling the box. If anadditional step is required to lock the sides in place, it has been theexperience of the industry that either the step is performedincompletely, thereby insufiiciently locking the sides in place, or thestep is neglected altogether. Either deficiency results in a box whichwill come apart in use.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide anasthetically appealing folding box which is easily and quicklyassembled.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding box whichhas sufficient locking power to prevent the box from opening when inuse.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a folding box whichautomatically locks in its assembled position as an integral part of theassembly step of erecting the sides with respect to the bottom.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a folding boxhaving an interior free from projections extending into the centralportion thereof in order to permit use of the box form as a cover whichtelescopes over the box bottom.

Other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent from thebelow specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a box formed in accordance with thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank that, when folded, forms the box ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG- URE 2 in a partiallyfolded position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a partially folded blank form inaccordance with a second embodiment of this invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial plan view of a blank formed in accordance with athird embodiment of this invention.

This invention, in one form, comprises a folding box having an improvedcorner construction which serves as the locking means for the box whenthe sides are erected. The assembled box is asthetically appealing sincethe corner construction is essentially completely concealed and,furthermore, the interlocking portions lie flat along the sides of thebox thus permitting the use of telescoping covers made with the samedesign as the base of the box.

Adverting now to the drawings, and more particularly FIGURES 1 and 2,the-re is illustrated an assembled box 10 (FIG. 1) formed from the blank11 illustrated in FIG- URE 2. The blank 11, cut from sheet material suchas cardboard, solid fiber, paper board, or other suitable foldable sheetmaterial, includes a base panel 12 and four side wall panels 14, 16, 18,20, referred to as first, second, third and fourth panels, respectively,for ease of description. The wall panels are joined to the edges of thebase panel 12 along fold lines 22 which form the base edges of the wallpanels 14, 16, 18, 20. The fold lines 22 provide for easy erection ofthe wall panels along a definite line thus simplifying the assemblyprocedure.

Spaced inwardly from opposed first and second edges 24, 26 respectivelyand extending from the base edge or fold line 22 outwardly toward thetop edge 28 are fold lines 29. The fold lines are interrupted for apredetermined length, illustrated at 30, to provide a guide 31 when thefirst and third panels 14, 18 are erected, for reasons described below.The side edge, base edge, top edge, and a line or axis through the foldline 29 define flaps 32, 33 on first panel 14 and flaps 34, 35 on thirdpanel 18. An elongated slit 36, commencing at a first point 39 andterminating at a second point 39 extends through the flaps 32-35, onesuch slit being provided on each flap. The slits 36 are parallel to thefold lines 29 and are coextensive with the guide 31 which borders oneside thereof. The guides 31 and slits 36 are formed concurrently byproviding a 'U-shaped cut in the flaps with the legs of the U normal toand intersecting with the fold line 29, the base of the U forming theprojecting end of the guides 31. When the flaps 3235 are folded alongtheir fold lines 29 the interrupted portion 30 will remain coplanar withits respective Wall panel (14 or 18) and, due to the'U-shaped cut,project therefrom and serve as a guide 31 (see FIG. 1). Furthermore, thearea of the flaps 32-35 which formed the guides 31 will now be vacant,thus forming the openings 37. The slits 36, therefore, areself-clearing.

The remaining two side wall panels, i.e., second wall panel 16 andfourth wall panel 20, are each provided 3 along their side edges with aprojection or locking tab 38. The line of juncture of the tabs 38 andtheir respective panels is a fold line 40 to permit easy folding of thetabs, the fold line being either adjacent to or directly on the sideedge of the wall panels. Preferably the fold lines 40 are slightlyspaced from the side edges of the wall panels 16, 20, as can be seenclearly in FIGURE 2, since the spacing will permit the edge of the wallpanels 16, to be coplanar with the outer surface of the adjacent panels14, 18. Each tab 38 is joined to its wall panel throughout most of thelength of the tab and, for the remaining portion of the length of thetab, is spaced from the side edge of the wall panel so as to provide aslot 42 which effects formation at the tab 38 into a hook. The tab 38 ispositioned on its wall panel such that when the wall panels 14, 16, 18,20 are erect with reference to the base panel 12 the portion of the tab38 above the bottom of the slot 42 coincides with the portion of thewall panel (either 14 or 18) adjacent thereto above its respectiveopening 37. This provides a locking relationship between the adjacentside panels when the tabs 38 are inserted through the openings 37 asdescribed below.

' To form or assembly the box 10 the first and third side wall panels14, 18 are folded along their fold lines 22 into an erect position andthe flaps 24, 26 are similarly folded along their respective fold lines29 thereby forming the guides 31 and the openings 37 at the inner endsof the flaps (see FIG. 3). The guides serve to direct the tabs 38 intothe openings thereby simplifying assembling of the box 10, The tabs 38are folded along their fold lines 40 and the second and fourth side wallpanels 16, 20 are then folded erect along their respective fold lines22. This latter step will place the tabs in position to be inserted intotheir respective openings 37. Because the hooked end of the tabs 38extend above the upper end of the openings 37 it is necessary to gentlyarch the wall panels 16, 20 on which the tabs are mounted, therebylowering the tabs with respect to the openings and permitting insertionof the tabs therethrough. The arching of the panels 16, 20 can beperformed by the assembler by pressing downwardly on the top of thepanels 16, 20. However, it is undesirable to make such a requirement ofthe assembler because it would then be necessary to instruct eachassembler in the method of assembling the box. Furthermore, if archingis performed in this manner unless care is taken in the arching its wallpanel will bend and crease thus rendering the blank unuseable.

In order to eliminate the need for manually arching the Wall panels 16,20 the upper edge 44 of the tabs 38 contingous to the hooked end areshaped particularly to effect a caming action which automatically archesthe wall panel the proper amount allowing entry of the tabs 38 into theopenings 37. One particularly effective shape, illustrated in FIGURE 2,is a convex curvature which places that portion of the tab 38 whichfirst sees the opening 37 at the upper extremity of the opening 37, theremaining upper edge 44 being above the opening. A slight force on thewall panels 16, 20 to insert the tabs 38 into the openings 37 cause thetab edge 44 to ride along and press against the wall panel defining theupper edge of the openings. The exchange of forces between thecantilevered tabs 38 and the adjacent wall panels 14, 18 effects agentle arching of the wall panels 16, 20 to which the tabs are attachedthus permitting the tabs to be completely inserted into the openings 36.FIGURE 3 illustrates the tab-insertion step, and the arching of wallpanel 20.

After the tabs 38 are inserted completely through the openings 37 sothat the slots 42 between the tabs 38 and their respective wall panels16, 20 are opposite the portion of the wall panel above the openings 37,the resilience of the wall panels 16, 20 cause them to straighten out orrise up effecting a locking inter-relationship between the adjacentpanels. The hooked portion of the I tabs 38 is forced upwardly causingthe adjacent wall panels 14, 18 to reside in the slots 42, the tabsabutting against the inside of the wall panels 14, 18 (FIG. 1) therebylocking the four wall panels in place. Experience has shown that it ismuch easier to insert the tabs 38 into the openings 37 if that portionof the tabs which sees the openings first is near the top of the tab.Accordingly, as can be seenin FIGURES 2 and 3, the tabs 38 are shapedwith an inclined lower edge 45 to provide this result. Y

Furthermore, if the bottom of the flaps 32-35 extend normal to theirfold lines 29 there is a tendency for the flap bottoms to interfere withthe erection of the adjacent wall panels 16, 20, especially in deepboxes. To obviate this interference, the bottom of the flaps are cutaway or inclined (FIG. 1-3). The top of the flaps, however, are shapedto remain colinear with the main portion of the wall panels 14, 18 inorder to strengthen the corner of the box providing a double wall, theflaps 32-35 forming the inner wall. When the box is assembled the fiapsprevent the second and fourth wall panels 16, 20 from arching and,consequently, releasing the tab from its locking junction;

As can be seen in FIG. 1 such a construction results in a very clean,aesthetically attractive box 10 securely locked in its assembledposition. Furthermore, the tabs 38 and flaps 32-35 fit flush against theinner sides of the box rather than extending outwardly toward the centerof the box thus permitting use of this design for both the box bottomand top which fit together in a telescoping fashion githout having thetabs or projections interfering with the t.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a box incorporating several modifications of theabove described box 10. Box 50, being relatively deep, preferablyutiiizes a plurality of tabs 52 and corresponding openings 54. In thismanner both the top and bottom of the wall panels are locked in placeproviding a stronger construction. Obviously, the number and sizes oftabs and openings on each side of the wall panels are chosen to fit thedepth of the box.

As in box 10 of FIGURES l-3, the tabs 52 are formed with a hooked upperend 60. In addition, to more firmly lock the wall panels together, anauxiliary locking protuberance 62 is provided on the edge 64 of the tab52 on the end opposite the hooked end 60, the protuberance 62 beingspaced from its wall panel a distance approximately equal to the widthof the slot 63 forming the hooked end of the tab 52. When the tab 52 isinserted into its mating opening 54 the upper end 60 of the tab hooksover the adjacent wall panel, as explained above, locking the upperportion of the tab in place. Furthermore, the protuberance snaps overthe wall panel at the lower end of the opening 54 providing a similarlock for the lower end of the tab 52. This dual lock, in addition toproviding greater locking strength, also ensures a flush fit of the sidewall panels throughout their length. It should be noted that instead ofa proturbance 62 the locking of the lower end of the tab can be effectedby forming the lower end to lie below the lower end of the opening andproviding the lower end of the tab with a slot.

In place of the convex curvature of the tabs of box 10, the outer edgeof the tabs 52 are provided with a generally triangular contour with theshape of the upper edge 64 designed to provide the proper force exchangewith the adjacent wall panels 66, 67 to effect arching of the wallpanels 68, 69 on which the tabs are mounted. The lower edge 70 iscontoured to avoid any force-exchange contact with the wall panel at thelower end of the openings 54.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 have the tabs located onopposite sides of opposed wall panels and the openings on opposite sidesof the remaining wall panels. FIGURE 5 illustrates another embodimentwherein the blank 71 has the tabs and openings alternating such thateach wall panel 72, 73, 74 is provided with a tab 75 on one side and anopening 76 on the opposite side.

A box formed in accordance with this invention is aestheticallyattractive, firmly locked in its assembled position and the flaps andtabs lie fiat along the inside Walls permitting telescoping of a top andbottom. Furthermore, all sides of the box can be easily printed uponWhen the box is in the form of a blank. The box can be easily andquickly assembled by one who has had no instructions since assemly isobvious. Interlocking of adjacent wall panels is accomplishedautomatically as an integral part of the normal step of inserting thetabs into the openings, the arching of the wall panels naturallyoccurring due to the shape and relative location of the tabs and theopenings.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A folding box having an improved corner construction comprising:

(a) a base panel, the perimeter of which is defined by a plurality ofedges, and

(b) a plurality of wall panels each of which is at least partiallydefined by a bottom edge and opposed first and second side edges andeach of which is hingedly joined at its respective bottom edge to one ofthe base panel edges such that the first side edge of a first wall panelis adjacent to the second side edge of a second wall panel,

(i) said first wall panel having a fold line spaced from said first sideedge thereof and extending away from said bottomedge thereof, said firstside edge and said fold line defining a flap, and a self-clearing slitthrough said flap spaced .from said fold lines, said slit commencing ata first point spaced from said base edge and terminating at a secondpoint spaced from the opposite end of said first wall panel,

(ii) said second wall panel having a tab hingedly connected thereto,said tab having a slot in the upper edge thereof, the distance betweenthe bottom edge of said second Wall panel and the upper edge of said tabbeing greater than the distance between the bottom edge of said firstwall panel and said second point, the upper edge of said tab contiguousto said slot being particularly shaped to effect contact between saidtab and said first wall panel at the upper end of said slit in a forceexerting manner to arch said second wall panel when said tab ispartially inserted through said slit, said second wall panelstraightening out causing said slot to receive said first wall panel ininterlocking relationship when said tab is inserted through said slit apredetermined distance.

2. A folding box as defined in claim 1, wherein said slot is contiguousto the line of juncture of said tab and said second wall panel.

3. A folding box as defined in claim 1, wherein said tab has a convexouter edge which cams the tab into said slit to effect a gentle archingof said second wall panel.

4. A folding box having an improved corner construction comprising:

(a) a base panel, the perimeter of which is defined by four edges,

(b) four side wall panels each of which is defined by a bottom edge,opposed first and second side edges and a top edge, and each of which ishingedly joined at its respective bottom edge to one of the base paneledges,

(i) the first and third wall panels being joined to said base panel atopposite sides thereof, said first and third wall panels having firstand second fold lines spaced from said first and second side edgesrespectively, said fold lines and said side edges defining first andsecond flaps therebetween, said first and second fold lines extendingaway from said base edge to the top edge of said first and third wallpanels except for a predetermined length intermediate the base and topedges, and a self-clearing slit through each of said flaps spaced fromthe corresponding fold line coextensive and parallel with saidpredetermined length and contiguous thereto, said selfclearing slitincluding a first slit contiguous and parallel to the fold line of theflap through which said slit extends and a pair of second slitssubstantially normal to said first slit and extending from the top andbottom of said first slit to the fiaps fold line whereby said first andthird Wall panels have an extension projecting sidewardly therefrom andco-planar therewith when the flaps are folded along their respectivefold line's.

(ii) the second and fourth wall panels being joined to said base panelat the remaining edges thereof each having a tab joined thereto along afold line adjacent to but slightly spaced from the first and secondedges thereof, each of said tabs being joined to its respective wallpanel along a portion of the length of said tabs, the remainder of thetab length being spaced from the said second and fourth wall panels toform a slot, the distance between said base panel and the edge of saidtab contiguous to :said slot being greater than the distance betweensaid base panel and the top of said slit, the edge of said tabscontiguoils to said slot being particularly shaped so as to contact in aforce exerting manner said first and third wall panels at the upper endof said slits to effect arching of said second and fourth wall panelswhen each of said tabs is partially inserted through the slits adjacentthereto, said second and fourth wall panels straightening out causingsaid slots to receive in an interlocking relationship the wall panelsadjacent thereto when said tabs are inserted completely through saidslits.

5. A folding box as defined in claim 1 wherein said self-clearing slitincludes a first slit contiguous and parallel to said fold line and apair of second slits substantially normal to said first slit andextending from the top and bottom of said first slit to said fold linewhereby said first side wall panel has an extension projectingsidewatrdly therefrom and co-planar therewith when said flap is foldedalong said fold line.

6. A folding box as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking meanscomprises a protuberance extending downwardly from the lower edge ofsaid tab, said protuberance being spaced from the line of juncture ofsaid tab and said second Wall panel a distance substantially equal tothe width of said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,998 9/1955 Bemiss 229352,955,737 10/1960 Arneson 229-35 2,982,464 5/1961 Wingate 229-353,161,343 12/1964 Paige 22935 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

